Introduction
Cats are largely believed to mate with multiple partners and not form monogamous bonds. However, the mating habits and social structures of cats in the wild versus domestic cats can show some differences. In this article, we will examine cat courtship, breeding seasons, polygamy, bonding behaviors, impacts of spaying/neutering, and other factors that influence feline mating patterns.
Overall, while cats are polygamous animals, some exceptions exist where domestic cats form close bonds with a mate. Their mating habits and social structures vary based on environment, breed, and other influences.
Mating Behavior
Cats become sexually mature between 6-10 months old and go into heat multiple times per year during breeding season. When a female cat goes into heat, she will actively seek out tom cats and flirt to attract mates. Female cats in heat are very vocal – they will meow frequently and loudly to signal their fertility to males. They also release pheromones that attract toms from a distance.
During courtship, the female cat will rub, brush up against, groom, and roll on the ground near potential mates. If the male cat is interested, he will sniff the female’s hindquarters and make a “mating bite” on the back of the female’s neck to hold her in position for copulation. The mating itself is very brief, lasting only 15-20 seconds, but cats may mate numerous times while the female is in heat over the course of several days.
Breeding Season
Cats typically go into heat seasonally, experiencing what is known as estrous cycles. For most domestic cats, the breeding season begins in late winter and early spring and lasts through late summer or early fall. The specific timing varies by geographic location, with cats in more temperate climates having longer breeding seasons lasting from January through September. Cat breeding season months generally align with increasing daylight hours, which stimulates estrous cycles.
Cats are induced ovulators, meaning that the act of mating induces ovulation. This makes the breeding season particularly active, as once one female cat goes into heat and mates, it can induce other nearby females to go into heat as well. Peak conception usually occurs during the longer daylight hours between spring and late summer. After this peak breeding season, conceptions decline through fall until the next year’s breeding season begins.
In some warmer southern climates, breeding seasons may be extended or even year-round. But for most domestic cats, late winter through late summer are the peak months for fertility and heat cycles each year.
Polygamy
Cats are polygamous in nature, meaning they mate with multiple partners when breeding. Unlike monogamous species that form long-term pair bonds, cats do not maintain exclusive relationships and will freely mate with many cats each season (Catster, 2023). Both male and female cats are polygamous and do not mate for life or remain with one mate (Quora, 2017). The polygamous mating system allows cats to maximize reproductive success by mating with as many fertile cats as possible. This increases genetic diversity and the chances of their genes being passed on. So rather than mating for life, cats are wired for spreading their genes as widely as possible through multiple matings.
Bonds
Female cats have strong bonds with their kittens, though bonds with male cats tend to be weaker. According to a 2021 study published in Scientific Reports, “Cats form close emotional relationships with humans, yet little is known about this.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8228645/ The study found that mother cats form affectionate bonds with their young, especially in the early stages of development, though bonds with male cats are typically more detached.
Kittens rely on their mothers for food, warmth, protection, and socialization in the first couple months of life. This close contact facilitates bonding between the mother and kittens. However, male cats generally do not participate in raising kittens, so they lack the same bonding opportunities.
Domestic cats may have weaker bonds than feral cats that live together in colonies. Feral mothers must protect and provide for their young without human assistance. The greater dependence of kittens on their feral mothers strengthens maternal bonds.
In the Wild
Among feral and stray cat populations, mating patterns are strongly dictated by the changing seasons. As the weather warms up in the spring and summer months, feral cats enter their breeding season. The longer days and increased daylight during this time triggers estrus cycles in female cats, making them receptive to mating.
During the breeding months, female feral cats advertise their readiness to mate through behaviors like rolling, rubbing, and vocalizing. Intact male feral cats, attracted by these signals, will fight aggressively to compete for access to females. Feral cat mating involves forceful neck biting by the male to hold the female in position. Once mated, a female cat can get pregnant again almost immediately after giving birth, allowing for multiple litters per season.
The breeding season slows down as daylight hours decrease in the fall and winter. Female cats are no longer in heat and male feral cats are less territorial. This seasonal polygamy allows feral cats to maximize reproductive success based on environmental conditions.
Domestic Cats
Pet cats typically do not mate for life. Unlike some species that form monogamous lifelong bonds, domestic cats are polygamous in their mating habits (source). This means that male and female cats will mate with multiple partners throughout their lifetime.
According to one source, domestic cats may live together amicably in the same household, but they do not view one another as lifelong mates. While groups of cats may be friendly and social, they do not form lasting pair bonds.
In fact, domestic cats are known to mate with multiple partners during each mating season. Female domestic cats in particular will seek out and accept multiple male mates when they are in heat. So while pet cats may live together in the same home, they can and often do have multiple mating partners over the course of their lifetime.
Exceptions
While cats are generally not monogamous, there are some rare exceptions where a bonded pair of cats will mate for life. According to one source, some cat owners have observed bonded pairs of cats that stick together and do not mate with other cats (“Can two cats have a monogamous relationship?”, https://www.quora.com/Can-two-cats-have-a-monogamous-relationship). These monogamous cat pairs will groom each other, sleep curled up together, play together, and protect each other from other cats. They appear to form a lifelong bond. However, even in these rare cases, the monogamy seems to be driven by the bond between the two cats rather than an innate biological drive for monogamy. Most experts agree cats are wired to be polygamous for reproductive purposes, but bonding behavior in domestically raised cats can sometimes override those instincts in unique cases.
Spaying/Neutering Impact
Spaying and neutering cats has a significant impact on their mating behaviors and instincts. When cats are spayed (females) or neutered (males), their reproductive organs are surgically removed. This eliminates their ability to reproduce and greatly reduces their sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone.
Without these hormones, fixed cats have a drastically decreased urge to mate. According to the AVMA, spaying/neutering results in decreased mating behaviors like yowling, spray marking, roaming, and fighting. Fixed cats will not go into heat cycles or exhibit mating behaviors with other cats.
The procedure essentially eliminates the natural mating instincts of cats. So a spayed female cat will not have the biological urge to find a mate and reproduce. This resolves issues like unwanted litters of kittens and spraying around the house. Overall, fixed cats have greatly reduced mating behaviors compared to intact cats.
Conclusion
In reviewing cat mating habits, we find that while domestic cats can form bonds with their owners, they do not truly “mate for life” in the way that some other species do. In the wild, cats are polygamous and promiscuous, with tomcats mating with multiple females during breeding season. Female cats will mate with multiple males when they are in heat. While female cats care for their young, males do not stick around to help raise the kittens. Domestic cats retain these natural mating instincts, though spaying and neutering reduces mating behaviors. So in summary, evidence shows cats are not inclined to mate for life due to their natural breeding behaviors and biological drives.
